Fresno State Athletics
Photo by: Kiel Maddox
Bert Watts named Broyles Award nominee
11/7/2018 2:00:00 PM | Football
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Fresno State defensive coordinator Bert Watts was announced by the Frank & Barbara Broyles Foundation as a nominee for the 2018 Broyles Award, which honors college football's top assistant coaches.
Â
The 53 nominees in this year's class were selected from approximately 1,500 assistant coaches representing 130 Division I programs across the country. The Broyles Award selection process includes the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), a college football hall-of-fame selection committee and current college head coaches.
Â
A 19-member selection committee of distinguished former head coaches, along with a committee representing the FWAA will select 15 semifinalists on Nov. 20 and five finalists on Nov. 26 from the list of nominees. Those finalists will be invited to travel to Little Rock, Ark. where the 2018 Broyles Award winner will be announced on Tuesday, Dec. 4.
Â
Watts, in his first season as the Bulldogs' defensive coordinator, is leading a defense that ranks No. 2 in the FBS in scoring defense allowing 12.3 points per game and an even more stymie 7.2 points per game through their first five Mountain West contests. Only once in the history of the program has a Bulldog team held their opponents under 14.0 points per game in a season (1986).
Â
An aide to the scoring defense is the turnover production. Through nine games, Fresno State has produced 21 takeaways - which ranks tied for the fifth-most in the country (based on all teams and all games) – creating a turnover margin that ranks fourth-best in the country (+1.56) with the offense turning the ball over just seven times. Fifteen of the 21 turnovers have been interceptions, which ranks tied for the second-most in the FBS.
Â
Overall, Fresno State ranks inside the nation's top 15 in eight defensive stat categories:
The Broyles Award nominees include:
Tony Elliott, co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach at Clemson, was last year's recipient of the award. Winners from the past five seasons are not eligible to be nominated for the Broyles Award.
Â
This year marks the third time the Frank & Barbara Broyles Foundation has presented the award. Proceeds from the 2018 Broyles Award support the mission of the Broyles Foundation; to provide education, support, and resources to Alzheimer's caregivers.
Â
About the Broyles Award
The Broyles Award was created in 1996 recognizing Coach Frank Broyles' legacy of selecting and developing great assistants during his almost two decades as head coach at Arkansas. You can follow the Broyles Award on Facebook and Twitter.
Â
About the National College Football Awards Association
The National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. The 21 awards boast 699 years of tradition-selection excellence. Visit NCFAA.org to learn more.
Â
About the Football Writers Association of America
The Football Writers Association of America, founded in 1941, consists of 1,300 men and women who cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game-day operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com.
Â
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160
Â
Follow us on:
Twitter: @FresnoStateFB
Instagram: Fresno_State_Football
Facebook: FresnoStateAthletics
Â
Â
The 53 nominees in this year's class were selected from approximately 1,500 assistant coaches representing 130 Division I programs across the country. The Broyles Award selection process includes the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), a college football hall-of-fame selection committee and current college head coaches.
Â
A 19-member selection committee of distinguished former head coaches, along with a committee representing the FWAA will select 15 semifinalists on Nov. 20 and five finalists on Nov. 26 from the list of nominees. Those finalists will be invited to travel to Little Rock, Ark. where the 2018 Broyles Award winner will be announced on Tuesday, Dec. 4.
Â
Watts, in his first season as the Bulldogs' defensive coordinator, is leading a defense that ranks No. 2 in the FBS in scoring defense allowing 12.3 points per game and an even more stymie 7.2 points per game through their first five Mountain West contests. Only once in the history of the program has a Bulldog team held their opponents under 14.0 points per game in a season (1986).
Â
An aide to the scoring defense is the turnover production. Through nine games, Fresno State has produced 21 takeaways - which ranks tied for the fifth-most in the country (based on all teams and all games) – creating a turnover margin that ranks fourth-best in the country (+1.56) with the offense turning the ball over just seven times. Fifteen of the 21 turnovers have been interceptions, which ranks tied for the second-most in the FBS.
Â
Overall, Fresno State ranks inside the nation's top 15 in eight defensive stat categories:
- Passes Intercepted: 2nd
- Team Passing Efficiency Defense: 2nd
- Red Zone Defense: 2nd
- Scoring Defense: 2nd
- Turnovers Gained: 5th
- 3rd Down Conversion Pct. Defense: 10th
- Total Defense: 14th
- Passing Yards Allowed: 15th
The Broyles Award nominees include:
- Alabama - Michael Locksley, Offensive Coordinator
- Alabama Birmingham - David Reeves, Defensive Coordinator
- Appalachian State - Bryan Brown, Defensive Coordinator/Cornerbacks
- Arizona State - Danny Gonzales, Defensive Coordinator
- Arkansas State - Norval McKenzie, Special Teams Coordinator/Running Backs
- Army - Jay Bateman, Defensive Coordinator
- Auburn - Larry Porter, Special Teams Coordinator
- Boise State - Zak Hill, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
- Brigham Young - Ed Lamb, Special Teams Coordinator/Linebackers
- Buffalo - Brian Borland, Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
- California - Tim DeRuyter, Defensive Coordinator/Outside Linebackers
- Central Florida - Glen Elarbee, Offensive Line
- Cincinnati - Marcus Freeman, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
- Clemson - Jeff Scott, Co-Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers
- Coastal Carolina - Jamey Chadwell, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
- Duke - Matt Guerrieri, Co-Defensive Coordinator
- Eastern Michigan - Neal Neathery, Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator
- Fresno State - Bert Watts, Defensive Coordinator
- Georgia - Sam Pittman, Offensive Line
- Georgia Southern - Scot Sloan, Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
- Houston - Kendal Briles, Offensive Coordinator/Quaterbacks
- Indiana - Mike Hart, Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs
- Iowa - Phil Parker, Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
- Iowa State - Tyson Veidt, Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers
- Kentucky - Matt House, Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers
- Louisiana State - Dave Aranda, Defensive Coordinator
- Memphis - Ryan Silverfield, Offensive Line/Run Game Coordinator
- Miami - Manny Diaz, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
- Michigan - Don Brown, Defensive Coordinator
- Michigan State - Mike Tressel, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
- Mississippi State - Bob Shoop, Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
- Missouri - Brick Haley, Defensive Line
- Nebraska - Mario Verduzco, Quarterbacks
- North Carolina State - Eliah Drinkwitz, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
- North Texas - Graham Harrell, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
- Northwestern - Mike Hankwitz, Defensive Coordinator
- Notre Dame - Chip Long, Offensive Coordinator
- Ohio State - Ryan Day, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
- Oklahoma - Bill Bedenbaugh, Co-Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line
- Southern Methodist - Kevin Kane, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
- South Carolina - Eric Wolford, Offensive Line
- Syracuse - Justin Lustig, Special Teams Coordinator/Wide Receivers
- Temple - Chris Wiesehan, Offensive Line/Run Game Coordinator
- Texas Tech - Adam Scheier, Special Teams Coordinator
- Toledo - Robby Discher, Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends
- Troy - Bam Hardmon, Inside Linebackers
- USC - Johnny Nansen, Assistant Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
- Utah - Morgan Scalley, Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
- Utah State - David Yost, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
- Wake Forest - Kevin Higgins, Assistant Head Coach/Wide Receivers
- Washington State - Tracy Claeys, Defensive Coordinator
- West Virginia - Jake Spavital, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
- Wisconsin - Joe Rudolph, Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line
Tony Elliott, co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach at Clemson, was last year's recipient of the award. Winners from the past five seasons are not eligible to be nominated for the Broyles Award.
Â
This year marks the third time the Frank & Barbara Broyles Foundation has presented the award. Proceeds from the 2018 Broyles Award support the mission of the Broyles Foundation; to provide education, support, and resources to Alzheimer's caregivers.
Â
About the Broyles Award
The Broyles Award was created in 1996 recognizing Coach Frank Broyles' legacy of selecting and developing great assistants during his almost two decades as head coach at Arkansas. You can follow the Broyles Award on Facebook and Twitter.
Â
About the National College Football Awards Association
The National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA) encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. The 21 awards boast 699 years of tradition-selection excellence. Visit NCFAA.org to learn more.
Â
About the Football Writers Association of America
The Football Writers Association of America, founded in 1941, consists of 1,300 men and women who cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game-day operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com.
Â
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160
Â
Follow us on:
Twitter: @FresnoStateFB
Instagram: Fresno_State_Football
Facebook: FresnoStateAthletics
Â
Friday, May 29
Wednesday, May 20
Saturday, April 25
Wednesday, April 22